Camp Pendleton Marine killed in Afghanistan

Lance Cpl. Sean M. N. O'Connor died with 1st Battalion, 5th Marines

A Camp Pendleton unit assigned to the insurgent stronghold of Sangin, Afghanistan lost its second Marine killed in a week.

Lance Cpl. Sean M. N. O'Connor, 22, of Douglas, Wyo., died Sunday in combat with the 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, the Pentagon announced today. His death was the third fatal casualty suffered by the battalion since it took command in April of the Helmand province town.

O’Connor enlisted in the Marine Corps May 21, 2007, the 1st Marine Division announced. His personal service awards include the Purple Heart, Combat Action Ribbon, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal and Afghanistan Campaign Medal.

The death of another southern California Marine also was announced today: Lance Cpl. Jason D. Hill, 20, of Poway, died Saturday in combat with the 3rd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment. The Twentynine Palms unit is deployed to Helmand province as well.

In Sangin, the 1st Battalion, 5th Marines are battling insurgents as the fighting season in Afghanistan heats up in one of the country's deadliest areas. Another infantryman with the 1/5 Marines, Lance Cpl. Nicholas S. O'Brien, 21, of Stanley, N.C., was killed in combat with the battalion on Thursday.

Earlier in their tour, Lance Cpl. Joe Jackson, 22, was killed on April 24. He was buried in early May in Yakima, near the Gila River tribe's reservation in White Swan, Wash. where he grew up.

The battalion replaced another Camp Pendleton unit in Sangin, the 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines, which suffered heavy casualties as it pushed the insurgents out of the most heavily populated areas of the district.